4}

[Illustration]
LOWER FORDS OF THE JORDAN

From a photograph in the possession of Rev. Louis F. Giroux
of the International College, Springfield, Mass.,
and used by his kind permission.

Jordan river is a narrow, winding stream flowing down on the eastern
border of the "Promised Land." When not in flood its width does not
average over two hundred feet and it is rarely over five feet deep
at such times; in flood it becomes in places a mile broad. It is so
winding that in sixty-five miles direct course it covers a distance
of two hundred miles. There are some fifty fords across the river,
and in Roman times it was spanned by bridges. This picture shows the
"lower fords." At this point, or near here, the Israelites crossed.
"There are hundreds of other streams more large, more useful, or
more beautiful; there is none which has been more spoken about by
mankind"
[End illustration]

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And she said, "According to your words, so be it." And she sent them
away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

And they went, and came to the mountain, and hid there three days,
until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them
throughout all the way, but found them not. Then the two men returned,
and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua
the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen them. And they
said unto Joshua, "Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all
the land; and moreover all the inhabitants of the land do melt away
before us."

THE PASSAGE OF THE JORDAN.

_The Israelites Leave the Jordan Behind Them as They Left
the Red Sea_.

And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and they marched from
Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel; and
they lodged there before they passed over. And it came to pass after
three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp; and
they commanded the people, saying, "When ye see the ark of the
covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it,
then ye shall advance from your place, and go after it. Yet there
shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by
measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye
must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore."

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And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves: for to-morrow the
Lord will do wonders among you."

And Jo